Geographic Area Direction BERTHOUD PASS GEOGRAPHIC AREA Setting The area consists of high-elevation, mountainous lands extending north of the Interstate 70 corridor up to and including the U.S. Highway 40 corridor, and up to the Continental Divide to the west and north. The elevation range is 9,200 feet to 13,553 feet. The area has nine peaks over 13,000 feet. Approximately one-third of the area is above timberline, and consists of alpine meadow and rock. Lodgepole pine stands with a minor component of aspen and ponderosa pine occur at the lower elevations up to about 10,000 feet, and dense spruce and fir stands cover the area up to about 11,500 feet. The area contains important habitats for bighorn sheep, boreal toad, greenback cutthroat trout and lynx, and potential habitat for wolverine. Bard Creek and Herman Gulch contain a reintroduced population of greenback cutthroat trout. The area receives a high level of both summer and winter recreational use. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail traverses the area. Berthoud Pass, accessed by U.S. Highway 40, is a major access point to the Continental Divide, and the surrounding area receives a very high level of dispersed winter and summer recreational use. An electronics site is on the summit of Mines Peak. Henderson Mine, owned by Cyprus-Amax, Inc., is a large private inholding, and is currently under large-scale operation. The area is accessed by I-70, U.S. Highway 40, Bard Creek Road (Forest Service Road 277), Jones Pass Road (Forest Service Road 144) and a few unimproved roads in the Democrat Mountain and Woods Creek areas. The Forest Service has public easements on several roads through the Henderson Mine property. There are about 20 miles of nonmotorized trails, including the heavily-used Herman Gulch Trail, and many miles of informal trail near or along the Continental Divide. Goals and Desired Conditions Within the delineated lynx linkage area (on both sides of Berthoud Pass) maintain or improve habitat values for lynx movement. Throughout the entire Geographic Area, provide a variety of recreational opportunities while maintaining important habitat for boreal toad, wolverine, greenback cutthroat trout, bighorn sheep, and lynx. Add and improve trailheads and nonmotorized trails to key attraction areas such as the Continental Divide, high peaks, and alpine lakes. Provide law enforcement, signing, and closures to prevent off-road vehicular activity. Improve and increase boreal toad habitat in cooperation with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Colorado Department of Transportation. Seek opportunities to improve instream conditions in the Clear Creek and West Fork Clear Creek watersheds, which were rated Class III (non-functional) in the watershed condition assessment. Seek opportunities to re-establish cover (old ski slopes) within the lynx linkage area. Replacement Page via Amendment 7 (October 2005) Chapter Two · 113 Geographic Area Direction Within the old Berthoud Pass ski area, non-motorized recreation will be emphasized through closure orders prohibiting motorized recreational activities. Motorized access in the old Berthoud Pass ski area will be limited to administrative purposes and permitted activities. Pursue rights-of-way where needed to provide legal access along primary access roads. Acquire isolated private lands, as opportunities arise, to consolidate landownership. The wildland fire management strategy is perimeter control, with details shown on the wildland fire management strategy map. Management Area 1.3 Maintain semiprimitive nonmotorized opportunities. Provide a limited number of nonmotorized trails to accommodate access. Continue to prohibit snowmobile use in the basins of Butler Gulch and Herman Gulch. Manage activities to protect existing greenback cutthroat trout habitat and populations, and to enhance recovery. Management Area 3.3 Provide a well-signed and controlled network of motorized and nonmotorized routes for 4WD, all-terrain vehicles, and mountain bike recreation on existing roads. Improve parking facilities and access for recreation, in cooperation with Cyprus-Amax, Inc. Provide high-quality snowmobiling and backcountry skiing opportunities. Management Area 3.5 Perform vegetation management to improve sheep habitat, including the use of mechanical treatments and prescribed fire to create and maintain open timber stands and meadows. Accommodate motorized uses by maintaining a network of existing 4WD routes. Do not expand motorized opportunities. Install seasonal closures and close selected roads to motorized use to protect important wildlife habitat, particularly sheep habitat. Management Area 3.55 Perform vegetation management and rehabilitation to improve forest cover within the lynx linkage area. Protect forested corridor to provide for wildlife movement and dispersal. Accommodate non-motorized uses by maintaining existing routes and concentrating use onto existing routes. Do not expand use within the lynx linkage area and discourage use during the night. Install seasonal closures as needed to protect important wildlife habitat, particularly lynx habitat. Chapter Two · 114 Replacement Page via Amendment 7 (October 2005) Geographic Area Direction Management Area 4.2 Manage the U.S. Highway 40 corridor to protect the high scenic value of views of the natural landscape, increase trailhead, day-use and developed camping facilities, and improve universal access. Coordinate with Colorado Department of Transportation to reduce impacts of Highway 40, emphasizing visuals and soil and water protection. Continue to permit existing recreational residences. Management Area 4.3 Provide a well-signed and controlled network of motorized and nonmotorized routes for 4WD, all-terrain vehicles, and mountain bike recreation on existing roads. Improve parking facilities and access for recreation. Pursue reclamation of closed or abandoned mining sites in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, the State of Colorado, and Clear Creek County to improve water and soil quality and reduce hazards. Management Area 8.3 Improve the appearance of the Mines Peak electronics site with emphasis on removing large structures and consolidating users. Travel Management Strategy, Berthoud Pass Geographic Area Management Area Mode Existing Convert New Extent of Extent of System Ways Rds/Trls Additions Obliterations 4WD N N N N L MTR N N N N N 1.3 WMT Y Y N L N WNM Y Y Y H N NMT Y Y Y H N 4WD Y Y N L L MTR Y Y N L N 3.3 WMT Y Y N L N WNM Y Y Y L N NMT Y Y Y L N 4WD Y N N N L MTR Y N N N N 3.5 WMT N N N N N WNM Y Y N L N NMT Y Y N L N 4WD N N N N N MTR N N N N N 3.55 WMT N N N N N WNM Y N N N N NMT Y Y N L L Replacement Page via Amendment 7 (October 2005) Chapter Two · 115 Geographic Area Direction Management Area Mode Existing Convert New Extent of Extent of System Ways Rds/Trls Additions Obliterations 4WD Y N N N N MTR N N N N N 4.2 WMT N N N N N WNM Y Y N L N NMT Y Y Y L N 4WD Y Y N L L MTR Y Y N L N 4.3 WMT Y N N N N WNM Y Y N L N NMT Y Y N N N 4WD N N N N L MTR N N N N N 8.3 WMT N N N N N WNM Y N N N N NMT Y Y Y L L Chapter Two · 116 Replacement Page via Amendment 7 (October 2005) Geographic Area Direction JAMES PEAK GEOGRAPHIC AREA Setting The area is located between Rollins Pass and Berthoud Pass along the Continental Divide. It contains a mix of upper montane, subalpine and alpine plant communities consisting of Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, lodgepole, limber, and bristlecone pine, aspen, krummholz, meadows, tundra, willow carrs, wet areas, glacial lakes and rock outcrops. Elevations range from 9,200 to 13,391 feet. Mount Eva, Mount Flora, and James and Parry Peaks are the prominent geographic features. The area currently provides excellent opportunities for semiprimitive and primitive backcountry nonmotorized recreation. Cattle grazing occurs in the vicinity of Mammoth Gulch and on Nebraska Hill which is part of the Mammoth Allotment. Access into and through the area is provided on a limited trail network that includes the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Goals and Desired Conditions Maintain natural conditions while providing opportunities for year-round recreational use. Within the delineated lynx linkage area (at and near Berthoud Pass) maintain or improve habitat values for lynx movement. Maintain or expand mountain grassland and early successional lodgepole pine communities on an opportunity basis. Emphasize old-growth recruitment and retention. Allow fire to play as natural a role as possible in the area. This includes using prescribed fire to alter vegetative conditions, particularly in the southern portion of the geographic area where habitat improvement for the resident bighorn sheep herd is an important goal. The wildland fire management strategy is perimeter control. Insects and disease outbreaks are generally allowed to run their course. Rehabilitate disturbed areas where unacceptable resource damage is occurring to restore habitat quantity and quality for native plant and animal species. Timber harvest and road construction are not allowed. Provide year-round recreational opportunities on a trail system designed for four-season use. Emphasis is on providing opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, and crosscountry skiing. Mountain biking is permitted on designated routes. Protect current access on trails in the area by pursuing a right-of-way for the Ute Trail. Retain most of the existing trail system but consider some closures and obliterations. An increase in trail mileage is expected as existing trails are relocated and reconstructed to meet management area objectives and construction of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is completed.